My first week of my first year at uni I was living at a student hall of residence (this was right before I got kicked out of aforementioned hall). I was quite an insomniac back then, and one night I went for a walk and my wanderings eventually took me through the university. I came across a bunch of people queuing outside the student union building, and they explained that they were waiting for the second hand textbook sale to start. So I figured, what the heck, since I was up I might as well join them. Some people, more prepared than I was, had brought biscuits, thermoses and sleeping bags. It was kinda fun. Until 6am when the sprinklers in the gardens around us came on, and we all leapt up squealing. Luckily the sprinklers weren’t on, so we didn’t get too soaked or cold. I bought a bunch of text books for the courses I was enrolled in, and saved heaps of money. The psychology text book cost $50, instead of $80 bucks or whatever it was new. Of course, a week or two later I dropped out of psychology. And French. And... but I would’ve saved money on the women’s studies texts if they’d had any. I can’t believe I was enrolled in French. Weird. But I must have been because I still have the text books. Sentimental value, ok? Also I they’ve changed the texts so I can’t sell them back.
Anyway, today was the start of the annual second hand textbook sale. I meant to get there at 5am, I really did, but I kinda slept in, and then I got confused and thought it was a romantic day, but actually it was an Australian day, which means 10 instead of 11 so I had to run to class, and I didn’t make it to the booksale until 11. They still had one of two of each of the books I needed. See, the upshot of getting there in the wee hours is that you can sift through them and find the really grotty dog-eared books with water damage and coffee stains that are a whole $4 cheaper than the other copies. Someone must have been there at 5am ready to buy all the coffee stained English texts. Never mind; I still saved some money. I mean, for new books I would have had to spend about $400. And this time there will be no dropping out of courses.
The sale seemed to be run by one of the Christian groups. When I handed over my money they said “Would you like a free book? It’s about the life of Jesus.” Apparently the book sale makes heaps of money.
Explains a lot really.
Posted by Fionnaigh at March 4, 2004 10:11 PM